Curious Critters- A Tal'dorei Tale.

"I'll join you," Werhann declares, feeling no need to elaborate again. He stands up from the spot where he was resting for the last hour and picks up the glaive that was left nearby. He notes that it didn't disappear during all this time. 'Must be proximity-related then.' 

"I've run into only a single trap trying to get out," he explains, "and that was in a corridor farther ahead. In an intersection, where one path will lead farther down - where the trap lies - and the other back to the cell where I was kept. I'll alert you before we get there. Oh, but of course, caution is always advised, just in case I was fortunate enough not to trigger any other traps I couldn't see on my way."

When they later near the trap that slashed him before, Werhann will alert anyone who comes along about its location, and then add: "But I have walked down that corridor for only a bit, so from here on, I no longer know what to expect. Not any better than you do."

(I almost forgot - Dev uses Song of Rest if anyone spends hit dice to heal during the short rest. Did they? If so, gain an extra 1d6 HP.)

Progo was on no shape to run off on his own after Quinn ended the existence of the squiggly face version of someone these folks used to know. So immediately after he was able to control his body again, he had decided to rest with the group, strength in numbers and all. Progo was uncharacteristically quiet while the gang was settled, at least on the outside. In his head, a great debate of should I stay or should I go now. He didn't want to die, as most do, and we was sure the likelihood of death was higher then Progo's comfert level down below. He had been here before, new group that he was going with and they pushed on to deaths door and Progo knew it was time to part before arriving. But the long he remained here with them, something was different, most of them seemed to be down here because it was right and not a pay day. They have one another's ba k because they want to, not because they were paid too. It had been a long time since Progo was apart of something like that, and he made the mistake of walking away from it then. He found himself wanting to be a part of that brotherhood bad enough to stay, even if it means certain death by squiggly faces or their dwarf henchmen. If nothing else, Progo could do this for the gang, figure out once and for all who this dwarf was!

"Progo is ready, still hesitant and under duress, but ready."

Lokilia does laugh as she and Dev seem to be saying the same thing together. Feeling a bit of relief from the heaviness of their last encounter, she listens closely as the tiefling compares her presence to the soaring hawk. "You don't know how many days back in Zephrah I would climb up to one of the mountain meadows and just sit and watch the eagles floating on the air currents above. It's just exactly as you described it, Dev. I always loved that."  She smiles at the happy reminiscence, as her hand goes to the little carved eagle she wears around her neck. It's right next to the golden badger's head necklace she's wearing. She shows both to Dev. "The eagle from home. And the badger necklace that belonged to Twyll? Remember, the daughter of those bugbears we met?" 

As the others begin to stir, she rises to her feet. She offers a hand to Dev to help him to his feet. "Let's get going. We've got to see what's going on here so hopefully nobody else ends up like the others did."  Feeling a bit reinvigorated, she is ready to follow Normont, keeping an eye out for danger. (Perception: 16)  

Dev studies Lokilia’s jewelry when she shows the pieces to him, nodding with the memory of the bugbear village.

”I hope they’re doing better now…,” he ventures, recalling the pollution the area had suffered. He has a sudden nightmarish vision of Whitestone suffering the same fate, but Lokilia cuts through the dark daydream when she offers a hand up.

Surprising himself with his renewed energy, Dev is no burden to Lokilia and rises lightly to his feet.

”Yeah, let’s… do what we can.” The teen tiefling quietly recites a line from a song:

”You can be a winner / but you got to keep the faith.”

Normont watches the others and a smile crosses his face as one by one they agree to proceed.

"Excellent. Thank you everyone, it is really appreciated you sticking with me here", he says genuinely.

He moves forward with Maggie by his side, keeping an eye out for traps and an ear out for any sounds that might denote the presence of someone else further down the tunnel.

"Help me out here, Maggie. Keep your eyes peeled for traps", he instructs Maggie, hoping she will be able to help.

Perception (advantage only if Maggie is allowed to grant help): (13, 2)+4=17

((Werhann healed during the rest. From Dev's Song of Rest, he regains an additional 2 HP. Thanks.))

'Under duress?' Werhann thought the mercenary was paid to come with the others, and they seemed nice enough. But maybe he was wrong? He should be careful. Above all else, there's still the option that they're all part of the squid's elaborate, cruel ploy.

Walking behind Normont, Werhann keeps his glaive close. Once they've passed the trap that gashed him before, he makes sure to be attentive of his surrounding. Traps, yes, but also illusions and other tricks that may be around. He has seen enough of that today to know it was not out of the question.

Perception: 3-1=2.

There’s not much Dev can do to contribute other than keep his eyes and ears perked (Perception: 13+2=15). The slender teen, the baby fat in whose cheeks has finally, after recent months of travel and exertion, faded to a healthy smoothness, pulls up his hood over his short horns and walks with a careful, measured step toward the rear of the group, exchanging a steady look with his silent friend, the tall genasi.

Stealth (in case a party stealth roll is needed): (with advantage due to elven cloak: 23)

The group moves out, Devs deft guidance keeping them quiet as mice and the trio of Lokilia, Maggie and Normont avoiding the trap when Werhann misses it the downward angle throwing him off in his recollections.

They pass the privy room, forgoing investigation for now and soon arrive at Werhanns cell.......from here they can see the tunnel begins to slope downwards at a sharper angle and become somewhat slick underfoot and on the walls and ceiling..........

"Unless you feel a burning desire to revisit your old cell, I suggest we carry on moving", Normont says to Werhann, assuming the answer will be no.

He does take a closer look at the substance that is coating the tunnel and making it slick though, trying to determine if it is a natural secretion or something manufactured. As he continues he moves slowly to avoid slipping and sticks with Maggie so she can help him spot traps.

( It appears to be a natural substance, at least without further testing.....smelling slightly of ammonia.)

Dev’s nose crinkles under his hood and he holds a hand up to his mouth, repulsed by the sticky ichor and the smell. Dread settles quickly into focused perseverance as he exchanges another steadying glance with Quinn. 

Lokilia slows as well, trying to be cautious and avoid slipping. She takes a closer look at whatever is on the walls and floor, wondering if it is something natural like a fungus or bacteria. Or even some other natural phenomenon she might have heard of. (Nature: 9)

Lokilia is reminded of some of the slime that certain amphibians produce when they are preparing for hibernation...thick and slick mucus....but this smelt way worse.

The group began to edge downslope but had to move extremely carefully as the slope increased to an acute angle and the amount of smile on the walls and floor increased.....if they slipped it was a long slick tumble into the dark below.....

"No, not really," Werhann answers grimly. "I've been here long enough." If they planned on bringing him back, this would be prime time to jump him, but they don't seem to do so. Perhaps they really are just a group of... that happened to appear just when he escaped in somewhat suspicious circumstances. And yet, here he is, delving deeper into the mountain.

As they proceed down the slippery hall, Werhann can't help but think about those 'fingers', the tentacles on Phindis, and the fact that whatever awaits below should be similar, but probably worse. "If we find that squid, be prepared. I don't know what it's capable of, but it would surely be more powerful than what Phindis was turned into. But, more powerful doesn't necessarily mean it'll have stronger muscles." He pauses briefly to think about what they know so far and how to use that knowledge. "Those screams, the ones Phindis emitted, if it can do the same but even stronger... no, even if it is just as powerful, those are dangerous enough. But surely it is limited in some way. Perhaps in range? If the room allows it, we should disperse so it can't catch us all at the same time." He briefly looks back towards Lokilia, Dev, and the rest of the non-melee-oriented folk. "I'm sure you already know, but you should keep your distance, if possible."

Should he also keep his distance, shooting with the pistol he was given from a distance? But he's not that good a shooter, and besides, if all stay away, nobody stops the squid from picking its target. No, he should risk it. After all, he was a Hunter, and protecting others was his profession.

"Agreed, we need to be far more mobile if the big squid is in residence. Obviously that assumes we get the drop on it not it on us. Worst case I will send Maggie in to distract it whilst we retreat", Normont says in agreement with Werhann.

As the tunnel starts to decline more acutely, he digs into his bag and produces a climber's kit along with some rope, hoping they will not only help avoid them slipping down, but also to help them back up the steepest part if they need to get out quickly. Or even slowly.

Dispite the awful change in aroma, Progo was fixated on watching out fir dangers, mostly from above. Progo learned long ago that most folks watched thier feet and where they stepped when concerned about stumbling into traps, but never watched above themselves. Things can drop on your head or swing past at you upthere. "Progo will take rope down ramp and scout out ahead. Kill quick, questionslater, got it."

Lokilia catches Werhann's glance as he looks back. "Dispersing sounds like a good idea. Though we'll see about the rest."  She sees the equipment Normont gets out and slows herself a bit, taking extra care not to slip. 

Normont looks to Progo, genuinely surprised by his offer to scout ahead after voicing his wish to get out of here numerous times.

He nods, "If you are sure, Progo. You have earned our trust today, just be careful, and just to scout. Agreed on the kill first approach where the big squid is concerned, but don't try and do it alone. Here, a little something to help you". He taps Progo on the chest with his screwdriver looking tool, and he gets a little static shock. It does not hurt, but Progo will feel himself become a little more focussed.

Progo took one end of the rope and began carefully descending the others anchoring at the top of the slope, his heritage affording him the ability to see as he descended as there was no way to carry a light source while descending needing all his limbs free to catch himself.....

4